The Republicans, realizing they stood no chance in the South, needed a candidate who could sweep most of the North. The most prominent Republican at the time was Senator William Seward from New york, but many republicans did not think Seward had a wide enough appeal. Instead they nominated Abraham Lincoln, who had gained a national reputation during his debates with Douglas. Although he was not an abolitionist, Lincoln believe that slavery was morally wrong, and he opposed its spread into the western territories.
Lincoln Is Elected